Starkey Hearing Foundation Opens Ears in Zambia
On 10 August 2019, Special Olympics Zambia held a Healthy Hearing audiology screening and Family Health Forum that provided health education to athletes, siblings and parents.
The event was anchored upon the effective approaches towards partnership and sustainability.
“We had enough man power and the screening equipment was more than adequate. We want to thank Special Olympics Zambia for facilitating all the athletes to visit the University Teaching Hospital to be able to be screened.”
- Dr. Alfred Mwaba, Director, Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia Director
Audiology is a relatively new concept in Zambia and many people do not know where to access this service. Media was invited to the event, and the University Teaching Hospital will also offer follow up care services to Special Olympics athletes. The Ministry of Health pledged sustainability of healthy hearing program by ensuring linkages with government institutions such as UTH and other similar health facilities.
“The energy from the Starkey clinical volunteers was amazing, it was second to none.”
- Mashane Nthutang, Healthy Athletes Manager, Special Olympics
The involvement of the Ministry of Health made planning for the event a success, with assistance in securing an appropriate venue. The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) provided the Audiology Centre of Excellence, a mobile booth and facilities for the opening ceremony.
“It is my hope that the government will continue sensitizing the communities on hearing loss, detection and intervention as well the need for cheaper and affordable hearing aids. With such efforts from Special Olympics and Starkey Hearing Foundation, the government will ensure communities have more audiology technicians, services, infrastructure meant for screening as well as for rights of children and adults with hearing loss.”
- Dr John Musuku, Chief Medical Superintendent and Pediatrician at UTH Children’s Hospital
About the partnership
A combined gift of US $250,000 from Starkey Hearing Technologies and Starkey Hearing Foundation will make it possible for Special Olympics to train more hearing health providers and make healthy hearing more inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities.
The gifts from Starkey Hearing Technologies and Starkey Hearing Foundation to Special Olympics will make healthy hearing more inclusive of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) by establishing a regional partnership in Africa and will support ear and hearing health screenings at Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®at World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
The Starkey Hearing Institute in Lusaka, Zambia, will deliver high quality training for hearing professionals, fully integrate people with ID into its programming, and create a regional hub of clinical excellence and programming for hearing health care inclusive of people with ID.
When we have the ability to hear, we have the ability to truly connect with each other. By partnering with Special Olympics, we are breaking down barriers to healthy hearing and helping people with ID achieve their fullest potential.
- RICHARD S. BROWN, PRESIDENT OF STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION
Among Special Olympics athletes in Africa, 4% have permanent hearing loss, 38% have a blocked or partially blocked ear canal, 21% failed a hearing test, and 19% have possible middle ear problems.
The regional partnership will address the prevalence of these health indicators among people with ID by providing clinical services, training providers, and integrating people with ID in all programming. The Institute in Lusaka, Zambia, will serve as a replicable model of inclusive hearing health across Africa and around the world.
Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with ID are often denied basic health care and services and are frequently among the most vulnerable populations in any country. Throughout the world, Special Olympics is partnering with international organizations like the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Starkey Hearing Technologies, providers, community organizations, businesses, and government agencies to break down barriers to health faced by people with ID.
